Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday nullified physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan in 12 new cases related to May 9 incidents.
A two-member LHC bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwar-ul-Haq Pannu reserved the verdict on the petitions challenging the former prime minister's physical remand.
During the hearing, prosecutors argued for the necessity of a polygraph test for Imran Khan, which the former premier had refused earlier.
Justice Tariq Saleem questioned why such tests were not conducted during interim bail periods, highlighting the timing of the remand requests coinciding with Khan's anticipated release.
PTI founder’s lawyer Salman Safdar, argued that the defence was unaware of many of the cases, and bail was neither sought nor granted in those instances.
Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu remarked on the recurrent practice of re-arresting the former premier upon receiving bail in other cases and questioned the prosecutors' delay in seeking actions on older cases.
The court criticised the timing and necessity of the physical remand, noting that the PTI founder was already in judicial custody.
The court also pointed out that investigation officers had ample time over the past year to act on these cases.
Upon completion of arguments, the court nullified the anti-terrorism court's decision to grant physical remand.
The court also declared the notification of Khan’s appearance via the video link null and void.
On July 13, the PTI founder, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, was “arrested” in these cases just a day after the couple had been rearrested in a new Toshakhana case, following their acquittal in the Iddat case.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on July 15 approved a 10-day physical remand of Imran Khan in 12 cases related to the May 9 riots.
The PTI founder was remanded in five cases of Sarwar Road police station, three cases of Gulberg police station and one case each of Race Course, Shadman, Mughalpura and Model Town police stations.